Date:06/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/06/stories/2008070660420100.htm

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TDP gets jolt in Kurnool

A. P. Bureau

Bhuma Nagi Reddy, wife quit party; Pedarathaiah ‘unhappy’

— Photo: U. SUBRAMANYAM

DEFIANT STAND: Former MP Bhuma Nagi Reddy and wife Sobha tendering their resignations at a public meeting in Kurnool on Saturday.

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party received a severe jolt on Saturday when key party leaders Bhuma Nagi Reddy and his wife, Sobha, announced their decision to quit the party while Makineni Pedarathaiah, a former Minister, threatened to part ways.

In both cases, the leaders cited TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s “indifference” to their problems as the main reason for quitting. Mr. Nagi Reddy even went to the extent of accusing him of failing to bring in key reforms in the party after its defeat in the Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, in Kakinada, Mr. Naidu told reporters that he was not worried over the exit of a few leaders as the party’s foundation was still intact.

He claimed that the party has always taken proper care of its leaders but some of them went out to achieve personal ambitions.

The party would not be bogged down by such resignations, he asserted. A former MP, Mr. Nagi Reddy, and party general secretary, Sobha, who wield considerable political clout in Kurnool district are apparently planning to endorse the party proposed to be launched by film star Chiranjeevi.

They made it clear they would not join the Congress at any cost.

Dr. Peddarathaiah, a well-respected party leader in Guntur, is peeved over not being included in the five-man core committee of Guntur district to discuss strategies and strengthen the party.

He retracted his threat to quit after Mr. Naidu and Polit Bureau member N. Harikrishna spoke to him.

Earlier, after consulting supporters from Prathipadu Assembly constituency, which he represented four times before getting defeated in 2004, the former Minister said he was pained to see the party “going to dogs” under the “so-called” district leaders, who never participated in any party programmes.

When contacted, he expressed unhappiness over Mr. Naidu’s comment that he could be called to the core-committee meeting “if required”.

Sense of insecurity

In Kurnool, Mr. Nagi Reddy said TDP workers in rural areas were haunted by a sense of insecurity but the leadership was unconcerned.

“We expected drastic reforms in the party after the Assembly poll debacle but no change was noticed,” he said. Moreover, the leadership did not give him recognition although he was in the forefront, be it contesting against the former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao or taking on Kotla family.

Mr. Nagi Reddy and his wife came to the venue of their meeting with party supporters in a convoy of 300 vehicles.

Their close followers Katasani Ramireddy, A.S. Subba Reddy and Budda Seshi Reddy accompanied them. But Mr. Nagi Reddy’s father-in-law S.V. Subba Reddy and brother-in-law S.V. Mohan Reddy were conspicuous by their absence.